Headstone of Abel Blood photographed in the wooded area behind Gracey Mansion

[date appears to be 1 May 1941]   Today was the first day of warm, almost sunny weather.  It seems as if I have been kept a prisoner within these walls, ever since dear Mama and Papa died.  I thought the dismal weather would never cease. I went exploring the grounds here at Gracey Mansion.   The property is a bit wild and overgrown, but intriguing. It would be far better for hide-and-seek than my boarding school in Switzerland ever was. But who to play with, here? I found the oddest little family cemetery in the thorny and wooded area behind the house. One stone belongs to a Captain Stevens, a previous owner of the Mansion, who'd distiguished himself in the War Between the States. He seems to have died rather young, and his stone is outside the perimeter of the small cemetery. Perhaps he was a sinner. There is no other reason for his stone to be removed beyond the cemetery walls. There are a few other stones, too covered with weeds to read. I will investigate them another day. Almost everyone else in the cemetery has the surname of Blood.  It's a common enough name, but nevertheless, rather disturbing. I inquired of Augustus' friend, Ezra, about this.  He has it on good authority that the Blood family once owned this estate, before the Stevens family did.  He said that a former groom at the Mansion, an elderly gentleman, recalled seeing a few members of the Blood family in town, before each met a tragic end. Ezra was not surprised that I feel drawn to the headstone of Abel Blood in particular.  According to local legend, Abel Blood haunts the cemetery.  He was from another branch of the Blood family. No one seems certain if he ever actually lived in the Mansion. His died about four years before the Stevens family took up residence here, and apparently his life's mission was incomplete. On dark nights when his spirit roams, they say that the index finger on Abel Blood's gravestone points down, indicating the way back to his home, in Hell. I mentioned this to George, who seemed quite agitated but not entirely surprised by my discovery.  It was as if something else was troubling him. I could see a muscle twitching in his cheek, though he turned away from me quickly. He says that he will not forbid me to visit the Blood Family Cemetery again, but he would prefer that I find more cheerful pursuits. Madame Leota, who seems quite brusque with me most of the time, responded in a curious manner.  She urged me to visit the grave more often, and to tell her if I observe anything odd. With Madame's unhealthy preoccupation with Spiritualist matters, I cannot claim to be surprised.  However, this is the first genuine interest she has expressed towards me. I hope this may bridge the gap between us, for I cannot fathom why she has taken me in such dislike, apparently from the start. I know that George visits Madame frequently, after the rest of the household is in bed.  He denies it, but perhaps he thinks it unmanly to have a friendship with a woman--and a very odd woman, at that.   Ezra has hinted that there was once a romantic involvement between George and Madame.  However, I am certain George would never dally with someone so unsuitable. Sometimes, Ezra is like an old woman with his tales. After all, George and I are engaged, and that bears great importance among people of our social standing.  George would never jeopardize his reputation by trifling with that woman, I am certain. Ezra is a dreadful gossip, and I fear he will lead my brother Augustus to misfortune. Already, Augustus insists that his name is "Gus", at Ezra's urging. "Gus" sounds so common to me, when Augustus is such a grand name. I cannot imagine what that is about, but humor Augustus by playing along with this. Madame Leota has asked to accompany me to the Blood Family Cemetery tomorrow. I hope it is another fine day, and that Madame is a cheerful companion.

next diary page

©2001 - 2005, Emily Gracey, all rights reserved.  
Legal information:  This is not an official site of the Walt Disney Company, simply fan-created pages.  All Disney-related images and names are owned by that company, which maintains the exclusive right to their use.  No right of reproduction is implied.